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use, manufacture, store, or distribute hazardous materials. Large quantities of materials may be stored at these facilities such as propane distributors, farm supply companies, and manufacturing or research facilities. And, of course, radioactive materials are found in medical and research facilities, manufacturing sites, nuclear power plants, and spent fuel storage facilities. When we consider risks, evacuation has historically been a primary concern. Regionally, we may not be prepared for widespread catastrophic events of the magnitude of the recent terrorist events. 1-40 and US 64 are primary thoroughfares for east/west travel. Heavy use leads to regular roadway maintenance and frequent traffic jams. In an evacuation, this will result in compromised traffic flow and extended travel time. Information dissemination is faster now than any other time. Citizens today are more concerned about their personal safety and have more timely general information. Therefore, we must recognize that citizens may be overly reactionary and leave, even when not directed to do so. If persons do evacuate, it is probable that they will travel outside the county and possibly in other regions of the state, or to other states. You may be surprised to find that the 911 system can fail. Each telephone exchange has a fixed number of lines for 911 use. This number is determined by the telephone company based on the number of land line subscribers in that exchange. Wireless subscribers are not included in the count. There is also a finite number of staff on duty in every 911 center. For example, an exchange might have six lines for 911 use and the 911 center might have five telecommunicators on duty. That means that if seven or more people in that exchange call 911 at the same time, five will be answered, one will ring unanswered, and the rest will get a busy signal because of system overload. The frequency of overload incidents is rising, driven primarily by the increasing use of wireless technology. 1-40 and US 64 cross through some of the most populated counties in North Carolina. Shown are population figures from the 2000 census. It should be noted that the Raleigh News & Observer recently reported that Raleigh Planning officials estimate their population surpassed the 300,000 mark. There are more than 120 municipalities in our region, including the 1-40, US 64, and 1-85 corridors. Notice how both railroads, shown in red, and highways, shown in blue, run through the middle of towns and cities. Any major incident could lead to the closure of transportation corridors creating extraordinary traffic jams for hours. This map reflects population density by county. Population density is an important consideration because it is a fair predictor of normal traffic volume. Secondary roads in densely populated counties are more apt to be crowded on a regular condition than comparable roads in less densely populated counties. This usual crowding would worsen already difficult evacuation considerations. Evacuation is an important component in any emergency plan for large-scale incidents. Many specific factors affect evacuation planning, so let's look at a few. Roadway infrastructure is not capable of handling a large-scale rapid evacuation. 1-40 and US 64 are frequently at or near capacity under normal conditions. Note these photographs. They show a traffic jam in Orange County on Interstate 40 near the 266 mile marker on April 25`h, last Thursday. West bound traffic was at a standstill, backed up ten miles for over an hour due to a single motor vehicle crash. Evacuation effectiveness depends on multiple factors such as the time of day, weather, school schedules and notification. For example, an evacuation begun at midnight on a clear Sunday morning in June would progress much differently than one attempted at 8:00 in the morning on a rainy Thursday in December. School buses full of children, car loads of commuters, and worried parents would all complicate the evacuation. Any regional evacuation will not only affect surrounding areas, but likely other states as well. We cannot end the evacuation plan when a car crosses a political boundary. Where evacuees go, how they are cared for, and when they return must be considerations as well. Our multi-hazard plan provides guidance and outlines responsibilities for the different county departments and affiliated non-profit agencies. Our plan bases evacuation estimates on ten-year old untested assumptions with best-case scenarios. For example, our evacuation assumptions are based on formulas used by the North Carolina Department of Transportation